Ocala native Joseph M. O’Farrell, III currently serves on the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association board as treasurer.
His passion for Thoroughbreds comes from growing up on the family farm, Ocala Stud.
In his early years, O’Farrell worked on the farm mowing fields and feeding and caring for the farm’s yearlings. A member of the Boy Scouts of America, he earned his Eagle Scout award in 1994. After high school in Ocala, he went off to Erskine College in Due West, S.C., where he was a student athlete on the tennis team.
In 1999, O’Farrell graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with emphasis in accounting. After college, he went to work for The South Financial Group and Carolina First Bank in Anderson, South Carolina.
In 2004, he returned to Ocala and became a manager at Ocala Stud, handling farm finances. In late 2004, O’Farrell purchased the broodmare Lady Discreet along with his brother David and Ocala Stud as partners. In 2009, Lady Discreet became the producer of Calder Oaks-winner Chary, by Montbrook.
Ocala Stud is a perennial leading Florida commercial breeder and has either soley or in partnership bred more than 100 stakes winners, including Eclipse Award winning Musical Romance and graded stakes-winners Hades, Turbulent Descent, Tackleberry, Rigoletta, Gourmet Dinner, and Shadowbdancing.
Ocala Stud currently stands popular stallions Adios Charlie, Awesome Slew, Battalion Runner, Colonel Liam, Dak Attack, Gretzky the Great, Seeking the Soul, Roadster and Win Win Win.
O’Farrell is also a former president of the Marion County Farm Bureau and Florida Horse Park board member.
Joseph married Alicia W. O’Farrell in 2007. Their son Joseph “Michael” O’Farrell, IV was born in 2008.
